Garment supporter



July 23, 1929. B, WIL 1,721,874

GARMENT SUPPORTER Filed June 18; 1927 INVENTOR.

Br adus Zddlsqn A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 23, 1929 UMNELD stares BBOADUS WILSON, OF RALEIGH, NORTHCAROLINA.

' GARMENT surron'rnn.

Application filed June 18,

This invention relates more particularly to that type of womens garmentsupporters in which straps of ribbon or other suitable material, extendover the shoulders of the wearer,

each strap being adapted for securement at each end to one or moreundergarments to be supported.

The principal objects of my invention are 1. To provide fastener membersof metal,

in celluloid, or any other material desired, which fasteners areintended to be permanently attached, as by sewing, to each garment atthe point where it is to be supported, thus eliminating the wearing ofmore than one shoull5 der strap. These members are constructed to beengaged by hook elements aflixed to the respective ends of each shoulderstrap. One of these hooks is preferably permanently secured to one endof the strap while the other is Inovably constructed so that it mayreleasably engage the strap at any desired point therealong whereby theproper effective length of strap may be varied to suit the size or tasteof the wearer of the garment being 2 worn.

2. To provide a support wherein straps and attached-hooks of any desiredcolor, size, or material may be interchangeably-used with the samefasteners. By this means, straps and hooks'of various colors may be usedtocorrespond, as desired, to the color of outer garment being worn. u

3. To j provide shoulder strap supporters for garments which supportersmay be easily detached for cleaning and for replacement and which may beas easily attached.

4. To provide shoulder strap supporters for undergarments which maybeattached to the shoulders seam of the outer dress to prevent the strapfrom slipping off the shoulder. Other objects and advantages will becomeobvious or will be pointed out more in detail as theidescriptionproceeds. 1

In presenting my invention to the trade, it is contemplated sellingdifferent sizes and colors of straps and hooks whereby a wide variety ofselection willbe available to the public.

Attentionis now lnvited to the drawing forming a part of thisapplication wherein like reference numerals apply to correspondingpartsthroughout and wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferredform of strap and attaching clasps forming a part of my invention;

'ment with another fastener.

1927. Serial N15. 199,811.'

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of fastener adapted to besecured to the garment worn immediately beneath the outer dress;

Fig. 6 is a view ofa pin fastener;

Fig. 7 shows a type of fastener adapted to be secured to a garment bysewing;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show other types of fasteners adapted to be securedto a garment by clamping over the hem;

Fig. 11 shows a double pin fastener;

Fig. 12 is a section on line 12l2 of Fig. 11

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view showing a plurality of garments andtheir relation to the hook taken on line 1313, Fig. 14,

Fig. 14 shows theappearance of my device when worn with a fastener ofthe type shown in Fig. 5. V v 1 The numeral 10 denotes the strap, whichmay be a web or ribbon of any desired size or color. Permanently securedat one end of said strap is ahook l3. 7

Turning now to the adjustable hook, and referring more in detail toFigs. 2,3 and 4, it will be noted that this part of my invention isformed of a single piece'of sheet metal, celluloid, or other suitablematerial. Said hook is formed with a bent part as shown best at 15, Fig.4, to form a hook for engage- Adjacent and parallel to the forward edgeof the main portion, there is cut a slit 16 extending substantially thewidth of thehook (Fig. 2) and from eitherend of slit 16, are cutcommunicating shorter slits 17 extending at a substantial angle to theslit 16. The three slits bound the three'sides of a trapezoid as shown(although, obviously, a' 90% or any other suitable angular relationcould exist between the respective slits) and form, in effect, a tonguefor gripping the strap as will be readily understood by reference toFig. 4. V

Two other parallel and spaced slits 18 are cut in the hook adjacent thebent end trans-' versely of the hook through which the strap is adaptedto pass as shown in- Figs. 14, inc. This feature maintains the free endof the strap portion snugly against the back side of the hook andpermits the tongue to more effectively grip the material; From a perusalof Fig. 4 it will be noted that with the strap threaded through theclasp as shown, the greater the tension between the strap and hook, themore firmly will the tongue engage and grip the strap. Moreover, thetongue formed by the slits 16, 17, possesses a resiliency of its ownwhich, tending to cause it to spring up into place, firmly grips thestrap under all normal circumstances.

Coming to the fasteners, the latter are composed of material which mayor may not core respond to that of the hooks. In Fig. 6 is shown onetype of pin fastener available for use. A single length of Wire is bentinto rectangular form with inward projections as at 22. One end of thewire is pointed and the other flattened and bent to form a coopcratinghook as at 20 and 21. A flat metal reinforcing strip 23 is then bentaround the projections as shown. With this type of fastener, the pin isthreaded into the hem of the garment. The hook will engage portion 24 tosupport the garment.

Figs. 8, 9 and lO illustrate another type of fastener. In this form ablank of metal 25, Fig. 8, is formed with openings 26 and 00- operatingprongs 27, struck up from the metal. Oppositely disposed notches 29 andlugs 28 are also formed in said blank. rectangular loop of wire 30, isprovided and is adapted to have its opposite sides fit snugly in notches29. While in this position, the metal blank is bent over the hem of thegarment so that lugs 28 will clear the upper edge thereof, prongs 27 areforced through the material to seat in openings 26 and lugs 28 are thenbent around to engage the opposite side of the blank whereby thefastener is firmly secured to the garment. r

A similar type of fastener is shown in Fig. 7

wherein a flat blank 31 is formed with three slots, as shown. It isintended that this type of fastener will be secured to the garment as bysewing through slots 33 and 34 and that the hook element will engagethrough slot 32.

'The types of fasteners shown in Figs. 6 to 10, inc, are intended foruse on types of undergarments worn next to the body.

In Figs. 5, 11, 12 and 14, is depicted a type of fastener intended moreparticularly for the garment which is worn immediately under the dress.In Fig. 5 is shown a fiat piece of metal 35 having a central strap 36struck up out'of the plane of the main portion of the fastener. In thistype of device strips 37 and 38 will be sewed to the inside of the hemof the garment 49, Fig. 14, and the hook will slip over and engagestruck up portion 36. By use of this type of fastener the hook itselfwill be concealed as well as all other fasteners beneath.

Figs. 11 and 12 show a type of fastener similar to that of'Fig. 5,except that upper and lower strips 37 and 38 are replaced by pins 41 and42 firmly secured in the fastener at one end as at 43 and held in placeby clasps 44 at the other end.

Fig. 13 shows a plurality of garments 49 and 50 with fasteners 25 and37, and a strap 10 with a hook 15 in their relation to each other. Notethat the hook and fasteners are thus completely concealed when thegarments are suspended.

It is also contemplated that a slide 48, Fig. 1, of strip metahwill bebent around the strap to frictionally engage the same. Such stripcarries the male element 47 of a snap fastener while the female element46 is secured to the under side of the shoulder seam of the outergarment or to a second strap 45 which, in turn is secured to said seam.

In use, the fasteners having been sewn, pinned, or otherwise suitablysecured to the garment, each fixed hook 11 is attached to its respectivefastener at the back of the garment. The garment is then donned, thestraps brought forward over the shoulders, and the adjustable clips areslid ,alongthe straps to a desired position for properly supporting thegarment. hereafter, each hook 15 is engaged with its respective fastenerat the front.

On garments worn next to the body a fastener of the type shown in Figs.6 to 10, inc., willbe employed, and, obviously, a plurality of suchgarments may be supportedfrom a single strap. On the garment which it isintended to wear immediately under the outer dress, a fastener as shownin Figs. 5 or 11 will be used. Such fastener will be se cured'to theinner-side of the seam of the garment and, when engaged with its hook,will be concealed as will all fasteners beneath. The outer dress havingbeen donned, snap 46 is engaged with 47' whereby the strap is preventedfrom slipping off the shoulder.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a simple anddependable. support is provided by my invention which may be quicklyattached and adjusted. It is con- 'templated that hooks and fastenersmay be formed of material of, or enameled to, a color to correspond to.that of the strap. and sold in a wide variety of such colors to suitindividual tastes and shades of garments worn with my supporter.

Having now particularly described my invention I will now proceed toclaim the same although I desire it understood that the, description isnot to be taken in a limiting sense, but is to be interpreted in view ofthe claims and as broadly as they will permit.

I claim v 1. In a shoulder strap' for undergarments, a hook secured tothe strap and projecting outward therefrom, a garment having a fastenerwith a loop extending above the upper margin of the garmentapproximately in the plane of said garment whereby said loop may engagesaid hook, and another garment having a fastener secured to the innerface and below the upper edge thereof whereby said fasteners and saidhook may be concealed by said last- .uamed garment when in use, saidlast-named fastener having parallel side members, across member integralwith said side members and struck up therefrom to project rearwardlyaway from the garment for convenient attachment to said hook, andmembers at opposite sides of said cross member and parallel theretowhereby said last-named fastener is attached to its garment said hookbeing of sufficient depth to cooperate with both fasteners,substantially as set forth.

2. A shoulder strap for undergarments having garment-supporting meansthereon comprising a fiat body with parallel closely adjacent slots nearthe lower end, a rearwardly inclined tongue defined by a slit near theupper end of said body parallel to said slots and by slits extendingdownward from said first named slit near the sides of said body, and anintegral hook extending forwardly and upwardly to receive and holdfasteners attached to garments to be supported by said means,substantially as set forth. 7

3. In a shoulder strap for undergarments, a hook'secured to the strap, agarment having a fastenerwith a loop extending above the upper margin ofthe garment approximately in the plane of said garment whereby said loopmay engage said hook, and another garment having a fastener securedtothe inner face and below the upper edge thereof whereby said fastenersand said hook may be concealed by said last-named garment when in use,said last-named fastener having substantially parallel side members, across member integral with said side members for convenient attachmentto said hook, and members at opposite sides of said cross member andsubstantially parallel thereto whereby said last-named fastener isattached to its garment said hook being of sufficient depth to 00- setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BROADUS WILSON.

operate with both fasteners, substantially as v

